Work support



' March 17, 1936. E A O MGREN 2,034,038

WORK SUPPORT Original Filed May 18, 1933' \mm ia* Patented Mar. 17, 1936 WORK SUPPORT Eric A. Holmgren, Lynn, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Original application May 18, 1933, Serial No. 671,664. Divided and this application April 12, 1934, Serial No. 720,273

23 Claims.

This invention relates to work supports, the present application being a division of my copending application for Letters Patent for Improvements in lasting machines, Serial No. 671,- 664, filed on May 18, 1933. While the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a construction designed for use in the lasting machine shown in that application to support the last and its shoe materials during the lasting operation, it is to be understood that a work support constructed in accordance with novel features of the invention is not limited to use in machines of that particular character nor, in fact, limited to use in machines for lasting shoes.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting a divided or hinge last having a recess partially separating its forepart portion and its heel-end portion, so that the forepart portion of the last as well as the heelend portion will be satisfactorily controlled during operations performed on shoe materials on the last. To this end, the construction herein shown comprises novel means arranged to engage the rear face of the forepart portion of the last to support and control it, this means being mounted for movement lengthwise of the last into and out of operative position on a device which supports the heel-end portion of the last.

As illustrated, the forep-art-sup-porting means is locked in operative position, whatever may be the size of the last, by mechanism which is readily movable to release it when the last is to be removed from the work support.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a work support an improved construction affording provision for adjustment to position the work in proper relation to means that operates thereon. In the construction shown, a device immediately supporting the last is adjustable about an axis extending heightwise of the last at its heel end and is further adjustable bodily in directions widthwise of the last, so that the foreparts of right and left lasts may be positioned laterally in proper relation to means that operates on the shoe materials, whatever may be the lateral swing of the foreparts of the lasts in relation to the heel parts. As illustrated also, provision is further afforded for adjustment of the supporting device about an axis extending widthwise of the last and located, for example, approximately at the ball of the last, and also about an axis extending lengthwise of the last, to position the bottom face of the last in proper relation to the operating means. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to a construction whereby all these several adjustments may be effected.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows partly in side elevation and partly in section a work support in which the invention is embodied, together with certain underlying parts of the machine disclosed in the copending application;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l and of certain other parts of the above-mentioned machine which are near the work support.

For positioning a last and its shoe materials in proper relation to means which operates thereon (for example, in proper relation to the toe-lasting means of the machine shown in the copending application) there is provided a block 2 (Fig. 1) arranged to engage the top of the cone of the inverted last to support the last by its heel end and having thereon a pin l arranged to project into the spindle hole of the last, the block resting upon a bracket 6 and having a depending stem 8 rotatable in a socket formed in the bracket. Mounted on the block 2 is means which by contact with the rear face of the forepart portion of a divided or hinge last in a recess between its forepart portion and its heel-end portion assists in controlling the forepart of the last and in supporting it against pressure applied on its bottom face. This means comprises a slide 50 having portions spaced from each other widthwise of the last as shown in Fig. 5 and movable rectilinearly in directions lengthwise of the last in guideways formed in opposite sides: of the block 2, these spaced portions having at their forward ends upstanding cars 52 on which there is pivotally mounted for turning movement about an axis extending widthwise of the last a member [4 arranged to engage the rear face it of the forepart of the last, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Depending from the slide H3 is a finger 58 by which the operator may move the slide forwardly to seat the member l4 against the face It after mounting the last with its shoe materials on the last pin 4. The slide H! is then held against retraclast.

tive movement by one .or the other of two detent members 20 arranged to engage teeth formed on the upper faces of the two spaced portions of the slide, these members having depending stems 22 movable upwardly or downwardly in an opening in the block 2 and urged in a downward direction by spring-pressed plungers 24 engaging the lower face of the block. It will be understood that two members 28 are provided for the sake of greater precision in holding the slide If! in the position determined by the rear face of the forepart of the last. The operator raises the detent members 28 by lifting their depending stems 22 with his fingers to permit retractive movement of the slide iii to release the last. To maintain the slide it in assembled relation to the block 2 there is provided a pin 28 carried by the slide and extending into a slot 28 formed in one side of the block.

To assist in properly positioning the forepart of the last laterally, the block 2 and the parts supported thereon, together with the depending stem 8, may be adjusted about the axis of the stem which extends heightwise of the last at its heel end. For holding the block in adjusted position there is provided a bushing 38 (Fig. 2) slidingly mounted in a transverse opening in the bracket 6 and arranged to engage the stem 8 frictionally. Extending through the bushing 39 is a shaft 32 arranged to be turned by a handle 34 and threaded in a sleeve 36 which is fast in the opening in the bracket 6. The handle 3% has a hub portion 38 which bears on the outer end of the bushing 38, and when the handle is turned the bushing is accordingly forced into firm frictional engagement with the stem 8.

Further to assist in properly positioning the last laterally, the bracket 6 is mounted for rectilinear movement in directions widthwise of the last in a holder 40. For this purpose the bracket has a base portion 42 movable in guideways in the holder 49. The bracket is maintained in adjusted position by a detent member 44 (Fig. having teeth arranged to engage corresponding teeth formed on one side of the base portion 42 of the bracket. For withdrawing this detent member from operative position there is provided a rod 46 extending upwardly through an opening in the holder 40 and on the lower end of which the detent member is fastened. A spring 48 pressing at its lower end on the detent member tends to hold it in operative position. To enable the operator readily to withdraw the member from operative position the upper end of the rod 46 is bent laterally, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Mounted on the holder 40 is a plate 50 (Fig. 4) having a scale thereon arranged to cooperate with a pointer 52 on the base 42 of the bracket 6 to indicate different adjusted positions of the bracket. It will be evident that by such bodily adjustment of the bracket 6 in directions widthwise of the last, combined with the above-described adjustment of the block 2 about an axis extending heightwise of the last, the forepart of a last of any style and size may be properly positioned laterally in relation to means that operates on the shoe.

To assist in positioning the bottom face of the forepart of the last in the proper plane relatively to the means which operates on the shoe, the holder 40 is adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last and located, in the construction shown, substantially at the ball of the It will be understood that the location of this axis in relation to the last will vary somewhat in accordance with the size of the last, but

it will usually lie, in any case, in the vicinity of the bottom of the forepart portion of the last. For the purpose in view the holder 48 is mounted for movement along curved guideways 54 formed on a block 56 (Figs. 1 and 3), the radii of the arc of each guideway meeting on a line located substantially at the ball of the last. To maintain the holder in adjusted position there is provided a detent 58 arranged to engage teeth 69 formed on the holder 45!. The detent 58 is fast on a rod 62 (Fig. 3) movable lengthwise in a transverse opening in the block 55 against the resistance of a spring 64 to disconnect the detent from the teeth 60 when the operator presses inwardly on a stem 66 on the detent. A plate 68 on the block 56 limits outward movement of the detent under the influence of the spring. To indicate different adjusted positions of the holder 48 there is a scale plate 10 (Fig. 1) on the block 56 cooperating with a pointer 12 on the holder.

The block 55 is so mounted that by movement thereof the last-supporting block 2 and the pin 4 may be tipped laterally to assist further in positioning lasts of different styles and sizes with the bottoms of their foreparts in proper relation to the means which operates on the shoe. To this end, the block 55 has a fiat face M in engagement with a corresponding fiat face formed on a supporting bracket 76, and is provided with a stem 18 rotatable in a bearing in the bracket 16 about an axis extending generally lengthwise of the last but inclined somewhat heightwise of the last, this axis intersecting the last. A plate fast on the end of the stem 18 and overlapping the bracket 16 holds the block 56 in assembled relation to the bracket. For adjusting the block 56 about the axis of the stem l8 there is provided a beveled pinion 82 mounted on a shaft 84 rotatable in a bearing in the bracket 16, the pinion engaging teeth 86 formed on the block. The pinion 82 is turned by a lever 88 fast on the shaft 84 and provided with a spring-pressed pin 90 arranged to enter any one of a number of holes 92 (Fig. 5) formed in a plate 95 on the bracket E6 to maintain the block 56 in adjusted position. For indicating purposes there is a scale plate 96 on the plate 94 cooperating with a pointer 98 carried by the lever 88.

To serve as a part of a machine organization of the character disclosed in the previously men tioned copending application, the bracket 15 is fast on a slide sea which is movable horizontally in a direction lengthwise of the last to present the work to the means that operates thereon, the slide 109 being supported on a carrier I02 which is movable vertically in the course of the operation of the machine, all as fully described in that application. It is to be understood, however, that as far as the present invention is concerned the bracket 16 or its equivalent may be supported or controlled in any suitable manner consistent with the requirements of a machine in which the novel Work support is included.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that in the use of the work support shown the operator mounts on the block 2 and the pin 4 a divided last which may or may not have shoe materials thereon, and by movement of the slide ill advances the member l4 into supporting contact with the rear face of the forepart portion of the last, the slide being locked against retractive movement by one or the other of the detents 28. He may then utilize any one or more of the various adjustments described to position the Work in proper relation to the means which is to operate thereon. He may, for example, turn the block 2 and the member l4 with the last about the axis. of the stem 8 to compensate for the lateral swing of the forepart of a right or a left last, with or without a bodily adjustment of the supporting bracket 6 in a direction widthwise of the last. If necessary, moreover, in order to position the bottom face of the last in proper relation to means that operates on the shoe materials, the last may be tipped about an axis extending widthwise thereof by movement of the holder 40 along its guideways 3, or may be tipped about an axis extending lengthwise thereof by turning movement of the block 56 and its stem 18. Since the last-mentioned axis intersects the last, no bodily lateral displacement of the last results from the adjustment about that axis. Furthermore, with the axis of movement of the holder at located, as described, approximately at the ball of the last, no substantial heightwise movement of the forepart of the last as a whole results from the above-mentioned adjustment of the holder.

While the invention is illustrated as embodied in a construction having means for engaging the rear face of the forepart portion of a divided last to assist in supporting the last, in various novel aspects it is not limited to such a construction nor to means for supporting a last of that character.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a. device for supporting the last at its heel-end portion, and means mounted on said device for rectilinear movement lengthwise of the last into supporting engagement with the rear face of its forepart portion in said recess.

2. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heel-end portion, means mounted on said device for movement lengthwise of the last into supporting engagement 1 with the rear face of its forepart portion in said recess, and mechanism comprising a plurality of teeth arranged in series lengthwise of the last and a cooperating detent for holding said forepartsupporting means against reverse movement.

3. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heel-end portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heelend portion, a member for supporting said forepart portion by engagement with the rear face thereof in said recess, and a support for said member mounted on said heel-end supporting device for movement lengthwise of the last, said member being mounted on its support for turning movement about an axis extending widthwise of the last.

4. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heel-end portion, a member for supporting the forepart portion of the last by engagement with its rear face in said recess, said member being mounted for turning movement to adjust itself to said rear face in response to pressure of said face thereon, and a support for said member movable lengthwise of the last to carry it into engagement with said face.

5. In a work support, means for supporting adivided last having a forepart portion and aheelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a heel pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a block supporting said heel pin, and means slidingly mounted on said block for movement lengthwise of the last into supporting engagement with the rear face of the forepart portion of the last in said recess.

6. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a heel pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a block supporting said heel pin, and a device mounted on said block for rectilinear movement lengthwise of the last into position to support the forepart portion of the last by engagement with its rear face in said recess, said block being mounted for adjusting movement with said device about an axis extending heightwise of the last through the heel end of the last.

'7. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heel-end portion, a device for supporting the forepart portion of the last by engagement with its rear face in said recess, and means supporting both said devices for adjustment as a unit about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of the forepart of the last.

8. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heel-end portion, a device for supporting the forepart portion of the last by engagement with its rear face in said recess, and means supporting both said devices for adjustment as a unit about an axis extending lengthwise of the last.

9. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion anda heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heel end portion, a device for supporting the forepart portion of the last by engagement with its rear face in said recess, and means supporting both said devices for adjustment as'a unit about axes extending respectively heightwise and widthwise of the last.

10. In a work support, means for supporting a divided last having a forepart portion and a heelend portion with a recess partially separating said different portions, said means comprising a device for supporting the last at its heel-end portion, a device for supporting the forepart portion of the last by engagement with is rear face in said recess, and means supporting both said devices for adjustment as a unit about axes extending respectively lengthwise and widthwise of the last.

11. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and means supporting said device'for adjustment about an axis extending heightwise of the last at its heel end portion and about another axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of its ball portion.

12. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and means supporting said device for rectilinear adjustment in directions widthwise of the last and also for adjustment about an axis extending heightwise of the last.

13. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and means supporting said device for rectilinear adjustment in directions widthwise of the last and also for adjustment about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of its forepart.

14. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spinde hole, and means supporting said device for rectilinear adjustment in directions widthwise of the last and also for adjustment about axes extending respectively heightwise, lengthwise and widthwise of the last.

15. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a member supporting said device and relatively to which; the device is adjustable about an axis extending heightwise of the last, said member being bodily adjustable in directions widthwise of the last.

16. In a Work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a member supporting said device and relatively to which the device is adjustable about an axis extending heightwise of the last, said member being adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity oi its forepart.

1'7. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a member supporting said device and relatively to which the device is adjustable about an axis extending heightwise of the last, and a support for said member adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last and relatively to which the member is bodily adjustable in directions widthwise of the last.

18. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a member supporting said device and relatively to which the device is adjustable about an axis extending heightwise of the last, and a support for said member adjustable about an axis extending lengthwise of the last and relatively to which the member is adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last.

19. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a support for said device adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of its ball portion and relatively to which said device is bodily adjustable in directions widthwise of the last.

20. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a member supporting said device and adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last substantially at the ball of the last, and a support for said member adjustable about an axis extending lengthwise of the last.

21. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a member supporting said device and relatively to which the device is bodily adjustable in directions widthwise of the last, said member being mounted for adjustment about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of its forepart, and a support on which said member is thus mounted, said support being adjustable about an axis extending lengthwise of the last.

22. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, and a member having a curved guideway along which said device is adjustable bodily about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of its forepart, said member being mounted for adjustment about an axis extending lengthwise of the last.

23. In a work support, a device for supporting a last including a pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a member having a curved guideway along which said device is adjustable about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the vicinity of its forepart, said member having a stem projecting therefrom in a direction lengthwise of the last, a support in which said stem is mounted for turning movement to permit adjustment of the member about the axis of the stem, and means connected to said member for effecting its adjustment.

ERIC A. HOLMGREN. 

